Siting Permit Awarded for Dakota Access Pipeline

The North Dakota Public Service Commission approved the siting permit for the Dakota Access Pipeline, which has been under review for over a year. The pipeline is to be built by Dakota Access LLC, a subsidiary of Energy Transfer Partners. The 1,134-mile, 30-inch pipeline will connect the Bakken and Three Forks production areas in North Dakota to Patoka, IL.

The pipeline will transport 450,000 bopd with a capacity as high as 570,000 bopd or more – which could represent half of Bakken crude oil production. Shippers will have to access multiple markets, including Midwest and East Coast as well as the Gulf Coast via the Nederland, TX terminal of Sunoco Logistics Partners. The pipeline is projected to be in-service later this year although it still must be approved by the Iowa Public Utilities Board.